Although Kate Middleton isn’t the queen just yet—my bestie Lizzy is still kicking, and then it’s Camilla’s turn—she may have found a new title in the meantime: Queen of Polka Dots.
During the 2022 Wimbledon tennis tournament in England, the Duchess of Cambridge wore polka dots all week long. Frankly, it’s Middleton’s signature print at this point, and it works. I’m not sure if there’s some royal insignia or intricate family crest that comes along with her new unofficial title, but what I do know is that polka dots are one of fashion’s favorite trends this summer. The print has been around for decades, most prominently rising to pop culture consciousness with the sweeping, tea-length dresses from iconic American sitcoms in the 1950s like I Love Lucy. Regardless of her inspo, Kate Middleton’s polka dots have won me over.
Below, see some of the Duchess of Cambridge’s best spotted style moments:
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Alessandra Rich, July 2022
The duchess wore a black tea-length summer blouse and skirt set with white dots courtesy of one of her favorite designers, Alessandra Rich, to hand off the Wimbledon men’s singles final trophy to Novak Djokovic on July 10, 2022.
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Alessandra Rich, July 2022
Kate Middleton’s sky blue flowy polka-dot dress should be on all our mood boards this summer. Wear it to a wedding! Wear it to pick up groceries! Wear it to the DMV to renew your license! All wonderful options.
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Alessandra Rich, June 2022
I still don’t know what exactly a Royal Ascot is and I’m too afraid to ask—but honestly, I’m just here for the fashion. Middleton’s dotted Alessandra Rich dress is one for the books with her matching black-and-white floral fascinator being the one to watch during the horse race.
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Alessandra Rich, May 2022
In honor of her late grandfather-in-law, the royal wore a conservative dress with micro polka dots to Prince Phillip’s memorial service.
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Alessandra Rich, July 2021
In the first championship post-COVID, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a spotted skirt to sit at the edge of her seat during one of Wimbledon’s coveted tennis matches. She also wore Simone Rocha pearl earrings and a white tote by Mulberry.
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Suzannah, March 2020
Bar attire in the United States looks different—think black crop tops and jeans with some iteration of a beat-up, dusty sneaker. As Kate Middleton is one of the royal family’s most fashion-forward members, naturally, she wore a polka-dot dress to pound down some beers during a tour of Ireland in March 2020. Good for her!
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Jenny Packham, July 2019
While Megan Markle opted for another print during the tennis match, Kate Middleton wore her signature spots with a ruffled white summer dress.
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Altuzarra, September 2016
There’s not one but two types of polka dots in Kate Middleton’s blue summer dress. The duchess’s look was completed with matching a nude clutch and stilettos while visiting a school in England in 2016 to speak with students about the importance of mental health.
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Equipment, September 2019
The royal wore a spotted blouse with black trousers while visiting the Sunshine House Children and Young People’s Health and Development Center to meet with the Southwark Family Nurse Partnership team in September 2019.
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Alessandra Rich, May 2019
This ankle-length polka-dot dress, complete with an exaggerated poplin collar, was Middleton’s retro garment of choice while visiting a history exhibition at Bletchley Park—a former home and hideout for Allied forces codebreakers during the World War II. Fun fact: Her grandmother Valerie Glassbow was one of the codebreakers who helped decipher Nazi military messages who the 2019 exhibition honored ahead of the 75th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy.
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L.K. Bennett, December 2018
Right before the 2018 Christmas holidays, Kate visited the Evelina London Children’s Hospital, a medical center which supports and treats young children with rare conditions. For the occasion, which marked the duchess’s first visit as an official patron, Middleton wore an emerald dress from one of her favorite labels, L.K. Bennett. Plus, you can buy the same dress on the British affordable luxury brand’s website for your Kate Middleton cosplay.
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Dolce & Gabbana, July 2017
Polka dots can come in any shape and size, as demonstrated by Kate Middleton’s statement dress during the first day of the 2017 Wimbledon tennis tournament.
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Jenny Packham, July 2013
As is royal tradition, Kate Middleton stepped out days after giving birth to Prince George to debut her son to the world. Just as her husband’s mother, the late Princess Diana, did, Middleton wore a polka dot on the steps Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in 2013. Seven years later, the mom opened up about her health complications with her first son, telling Giovanna Fletcher on her podcast, Happy Mum, Happy Baby, that “[it was] utterly rotten. I was really sick. I wasn’t eating the things I should be eating and yet the body was still able to take all the goodness from my body and to grow new life, which I think is fascinating.”
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Topshop, April 2013
While pregnant with Prince George, Middleton wore a Topshop (!!!) spotted minidress to a friend’s wedding in 2013. The duchess, who’s a sustainable baddie and often recycles dresses for her outings, paired the garment with a black cardigan and feather fascinator.
